Town News Briefing

The Urban and Community Studies Program at the University of Connecticut's tri-campus will host ``Revitalizing Our Cities/Confronting Urban Poverty'' on Feb. 20.

The event will be held from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UConn Greater Hartford Campus in the Zachs Community Room, School of Social Work Building.

The event, which is part of UConn's Spring Series ``The Future of Our Cities and Communities,'' will include talks entitled ``Urban Poverty, Social Welfare and Human Rights'' by James Jennings from Tufts University, and ``Urban Sprawl as a Civil Rights Issue'' by Mayor William Johnson Jr. of Rochester.

Lunch will be served. To reserve a spot, call 860-570-9186 or email at Erin.St.Onge@uconn.edu

Areawide

Nominees Sought For

Food Security Awards

The Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy is accepting nominees for the 2003 Community Food Security Awards, which will be given to three recipients who will be honored by Mayor Eddie A. Perez at an award ceremony on March 20, at the Hartford Club.

The award recognizes individuals or organizations that demonstrate successful strategies that improve access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food.

Nomination forms can be requested from Jennifer Martin at Hartford Food System at 860-296-9325, and the deadline is Feb. 21.

WEST HARTFORD

Local Cable Station

Holding Open House

WEST HARTFORD -- West Hartford Community Television will host an open house and camera training session at 7 p.m. Monday for residents who might want to volunteer to help televise board of education meetings.

Volunteers who are middle school age or older are welcome to attend the open house, which will be in room 312 at the school board building, 28 S. Main St.

Community television is the public access station that serves the town. Programs are televised on Channel 5 on the AT&T cable system in West Hartford.

``If you've ever watched town council or board of education meetings from the comfort of your living room, you know what a great service live coverage is to the community. It enables, for example, parents of young children to keep in touch with school affairs without hiring a babysitter,'' said Jack Darcey, chairman of the school board.

``This service is made possible through the help of the community-spirited folks who volunteer their time to operate the cameras for these meetings,'' he said.

Participants in the open house will get a tour of the studio, council chambers and board of education meeting room. They will also get to operate the cameras. No camera experience is needed.

Those who want to register or get more information can call 860-561-1260 or 860-570-3717.

Hartford

A Cappella Group

At Trinity Chapel

Britain's Hilliard Ensemble, a male a cappella chamber group that has been performing medieval and renaissance music since 1974, will hold a performance at the Trinity College Chapel on Feb. 21 at 8 p.m.

The quartet will present early music by 15th century composers Guillaume Dufay and Josquin Desprez. They will also perform pieces from the 12th century manuscript from the great abbey of St. Martial in Limoges, France.

The performance is presented by the Austin Arts Center at Trinity College. Tickets are $10 general, $8 seniors and non-Trinity students, and free with Trinity ID. For more information, call the Austin Arts Center box office at 860-297-2199.

Hartford

Anti-Gun Program

Honored By Agency

A Hartford program designed to reduce the number of guns that wind up in the hands of juveniles has been named one of 14 national recipients of a federal award sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The first annual Project Safe Neighborhoods Achievement Award was presented to Hartford officials Jan. 31 at a national conference in Philadelphia. The Hartford program, called Project Sentry Task Force, was recognized for sponsoring basketball tournaments and other events aimed at showing young people the dangers of guns and the value of working together to prevent violence.

SOUTHINGTON

Grant For Industrial Park Study OK'd

SOUTHINGTON -- A long-awaited matching state grant for an industrial park study has come through, town economic development coordinator Joseph Lombardo said.

Funding for $200,000 cleared its last hurdle through a state agency late last week, and a search for a consultant to lead the study is underway, Lombardo said.

``There was some concern that because of the state's financial situation, the money would be long in coming,'' he said.

glastonbury

2 Men's Charges Cite Harris Street Robbery

GLASTONBURY -- Two East Hartford men were arrested Wednesday and charged with assaulting and robbing a pedestrian on Harris Street last month.